Europe & Eurasia

Europe & Eurasia

Stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to the mountains of Central Asia, the European and Eurasian landmass contains both some of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world, as well as some of the poorest and those led by repressive regimes. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022 has transformed the region’s security and launched economic, political, and defense issues into the global limelight, emphasizing the necessity of increased regional and transatlantic cooperation.

Explore

stay updated


Featured Reading

Sarkozy: the French Paradox

Dispatches
May 22, 2026

Washington’s latest force posture moves have Europeans feeling whiplash

By
Daniel Fried, Torrey Taussig

The announcement on sending US troops to Poland didn’t stop Washington’s other force posture decisions from generating concern among NATO allies.

Eastern Europe
Europe & Eurasia

Sarkozy: the French Paradox

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series
May 13, 2026

A US and allied strategy for Greenland

By
the Atlantic Council Task Force on Greenland

After US rhetoric about taking control of Greenland exacerbated tensions between Washington and European allies in January, the US, Greenland, and Denmark opened discussions about the US presence in the autonomous territory. In parallel, the Atlantic Council’s Task Force on Greenland brought together transatlantic expertise to explore the underlying issues and find a productive path forward.

Greenland
Northern Europe

Sarkozy: the French Paradox

Issue Brief
May 8, 2026

Can Friedrich Merz’s chancellorship survive?

By
Phyllis Berry

One year into his chancellorship, Friedrich Merz heads a government beset by economic stagnation, low public approval, and coalition tensions.

Economy & Business
Elections

featured events

Public Event
Fri, April 17, 2026 • 11:45 am ET

The British ambassador to the US on Euro-Atlantic security and the Middle East

British Ambassador to the United States Sir Christian Turner joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the UK’s ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and its vision for the future of Euro-Atlantic security cooperation.

Europe & Eurasia
Iran
Middle East
NATO


Public Event
Wed, November 19, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Intent to destroy: Confronting Russia’s campaign to erase Ukraine and its people

In this conference hosted by the Strategic Litigation Project and the Eurasia Center, experts will identify strategies to halt Russia’s campaign of atrocities against the Ukrainian people.

Civil Society
Conflict
Crisis Management
Security & Defense


The Russia Tomorrow series

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 challenged much of the common Western understanding of Russia. How can the world better understand Russia? What are the steps forward for Western policy? The Eurasia Center’s new “Russia Tomorrow” series seeks to reevaluate conceptions of Russia today and better prepare for its future tomorrow.

Read More

Russia Tomorrow

The CRINK: Inside the new bloc supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine

by Angela Stent

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series details how Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought together a new set of partners–united not by shared values, but by shared grievances–on the international stage: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

In-depth Research & reports

Sarkozy: the French Paradox

Russia Tomorrow
Dec 12, 2025

The Russian economy in 2025: Between stagnation and militarization 

By
Elina Ribakova, Lucas Risinger

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines the Russian wartime economy.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Sarkozy: the French Paradox

Report
Jan 14, 2026

Digital sovereignty: Europe’s declaration of independence?

By
Frances Burwell, Kenneth Propp

In Brussels, “digital sovereignty” may be the new “strategic autonomy”: a push for Europe to go its own way and depend less on the United States. As US tech companies and EU regulators clash, catch up on a policy debate with consequences playing out online and in the halls of power.

Digital Policy
Economy & Business

programs

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

Learn more

Explore the Power Vertical podcast

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Explore the Debrief series

#AtlanticDebrief

#AtlanticDebrief hosts interviews with leading experts, policymakers, and newsmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to unpack the challenges and opportunities of the transatlantic relationship.

Explore the Series


#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center’s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Explore the Series

Content

Article

Oct 2, 2014

Sarkozy: the French Paradox

By Nicholas Dungan

Nicolas Sarkozy’s return to politics is fraught with uncertainties, not least about the man himself. In French, “retour” can mean a return, or it can signify a comeback. If Sarkozy attempts a personal comeback, to avenge his defeat by François Hollande in 2012, he may well lose. If his return genuinely means a new man […]

France
Estonian President Toomas Henrik Ilves, Nov. 6, 2013

NATOSource

Oct 1, 2014

Estonia’s President: ‘Does Putin Believe in Article 5?’

By Lally Weymouth, Washington Post

Excerpts from interview of Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves by Lally Weymouth of the Washington Post.

NATO Northern Europe
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, October 1, 2014

NATOSource

Oct 1, 2014

New secretary general: NATO Military presence in eastern Allies ‘for as long as necessary’

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

It is indeed an honour to take up the post of Secretary General of NATO. The most successful Alliance in history.

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force

In the News

Oct 1, 2014

Karatnycky on Putin: “[His] Endgame is Unclear”

By Adrian Karatnycky

The Financial Times quotes Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky on clashes in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine:

Ukraine

Report

Sep 30, 2014

Rethinking European Security

By Isabelle François

The Ukraine crisis and the Russian annexation of Crimea have reshaped the security environment in Europe. In 2014, Western experts and decision-makers grappled with how a partner of NATO and the European Union (EU) and a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe could so blatantly […]

Russia Ukraine
Arrival of US 173rd Infantry Brigade troops in Latvia, April 24, 2014

NATOSource

Sep 30, 2014

In Latvia, Fresh Fears of Aggression as Kremlin Warns about Russian Minorities

By Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post

As top Kremlin officials have sounded ominous new warnings that they will defend ethnic Russians wherever they live, Latvia, the NATO nation with the highest proportion of Russians, is feeling like it is in the crosshairs.

NATO Northern Europe
Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, Oct. 27, 2008

NATOSource

Sep 29, 2014

Prime Minister Stubb: Finland Should have Joined NATO in 1995

By Spiegel

SPIEGEL: Mr. Stubb, Moscow is following with great concern just how sympathetic you are to the idea of Finland joining NATO.

NATO NATO Partnerships

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | September 29

By Irena Chalupa

Ukrainians Topple Lenin Statue in Kharkiv via Huffington Post In Eastern Ukraine, a Bellicose Mood Prevails via NPR Russia, Ukraine in a Gas Dispute as Winter Approaches via Washington Post Belarus Lures Ukrainians Picking Dictatorship over War via Bloomberg Ukraine’s Next Parliament Will Be Different, but Maybe Not Stable  via Kyiv Post Empty Moldovan Pipeline Shows Difficulty of Breaking Gazprom Monopoly  via RFE/RL

Ukraine
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, July 10, 2014

NATOSource

Sep 29, 2014

Defense Minister: Germany Unable to Meet NATO Commitments

By Deutsche Welle and AP

From Deutsche Welle:  Germany could not currently fulfill its NATO commitments in the event of an attack on a member of the alliance, owing in part to severe backlogs in replacement parts for its aircraft.

Germany Iraq

In the News

Sep 29, 2014

Hansen: Donald Tusk and the Case for EU Optimism

By Ian Hansen

Atlantic Council Program Assistant Ian Hansen writes for the EUobserver on why Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s proven leadership and established European relationships should inspire optimism for Europe’s future:

Poland
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Erwan Lagadec

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Vytautas Leškevičius

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Arms Control Crisis Management

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Leon Leskovec

Policy Advisor, Legislative Coordination Unit, EPP Group in the European Parliament

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Randi Charno Levine

Distinguished Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Marcel Lewicki

Director of Partnerships and Development, Munich Security Conference

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Staff

Charles Lichfield

Director, Economic Foresight & Analysis</br>C. Boyden Gray Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business European Union
Load More

Events

Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union